2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as visually striking as the 2019 Mazda3, still offered a sophisticated style with its gloss-black upper grille, revised lower bumper, and optional 18-inch alloy wheels. Its silhouette was graceful, reminiscent of an Audi A7, with a long hood balancing a spacious cabin and short tail featuring unique wraparound LED lights. The Civic Touring model boasted chrome door handles and LED headlights that resembled tiny crystals, adding to its upscale appearance. The introduction of the Civic Sport trim brought a centre-mounted exhaust and exterior elements from the Si trim, offering a sporty look at a lower price point. The Civic Hatchback, with its tall and aggressive rear end, and the more balanced Coupe model, provided additional options for buyers seeking a distinctive presence on the road.

Inside, the Civic maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen for the tachometer and speedometer, a thin centre stack with minimal buttons, and clean lines. The fit and finish were of high quality, with tight panel gaps and durable switchgear, buttons, and fabrics. Despite its starting price under $20,000, the Civic's interior felt built to last, although the rear doors featured hard plastic surfaces compared to the padded ones up front. The Civic's interior design and materials contributed to its reputation as a reliable and stylish compact car.

The 2020 Honda Accord was recognized as one of the most stylish Accords in history, despite some mixed opinions on its front styling and rounded roofline. It was a mainstream family sedan with an upscale appearance, especially when equipped with the 19-inch alloy wheels available on the Touring, Sport 2.0, and Touring 2.0 trims. Other versions featured 17-inch wheels, which, while less visually striking, offered a more cost-effective option for tire replacement. The Accord was available in LX, Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims, with Sport and Touring offering an engine upgrade. The Accord Hybrid was also an option, providing a range of choices for buyers.

Inside, the Accord's quality was evident, with soft primary touchpoints, comfortable leather, and matte-finish simulated wood that looked authentic. The interior was spacious, offering ample rear-seat legroom and cargo space, making it a practical choice for families. The standard 12-way power driver's seat provided comfort and support, while the rear seats were exceptionally comfortable with wide doors for easy access. The Accord's interior design and materials contributed to its reputation as a comfortable and stylish family sedan.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engine options to suit different driving preferences. The base models, including the DX, LX, EX, and Sport sedans, as well as the LX and Sport coupes, were equipped with a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, these models came standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The Touring models featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre inline-four engine with 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hatchback models exclusively used the turbocharged engine, delivering 180 horsepower in the Hatchback Sport trim, where a manual transmission was standard. All Civic models were front-wheel drive.

The Civic Si and Type R models offered more performance-oriented options. The Si boosted the 1.5-litre engine to 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, available in both coupe and sedan forms, while the Type R delivered an impressive 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque from a heavily boosted and re-engineered 2.0-litre engine. Both the Si and Type R came exclusively with a manual transmission.

The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine offering quicker response and better mid-range acceleration than the base 2.0-litre engine. The manual transmissions were highly regarded for their clutch and shifter engagement, while the CVT impressed with its ability to simulate gear ratios without straining the engine. The Civic's handling was superb, with excellent steering feel, strong brakes, and a suspension that balanced comfort and sportiness. It was a car designed for drivers who enjoyed spirited driving, yet it remained comfortable and reliable for daily commutes.

The 2020 Honda Accord offered a range of powertrains to cater to different driving preferences. Most Accords came with a standard turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. This engine was designed with fuel efficiency in mind, and the Accord Hybrid, with its 212-horsepower powertrain, excelled in this area, averaging 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres during testing.

For those seeking more power, the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine was available, delivering 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission and featured Economy and Sport driving modes, as well as paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The Accord 2.0T was quick and fun to drive, although it could benefit from an optional all-wheel-drive system to better handle the power.

The Accord's adaptive dampers, exclusive to the Touring trim, provided excellent control over body roll, dive, and squat, while the 19-inch tires offered impressive grip in corners. The ride was compliant over uneven surfaces, although speed humps required a slower approach. The steering was accurate and well-weighted, making it easy to place the car precisely. The brakes were generally effective, although they could warm up and grumble during extended downhill driving. Overall, the Accord was a fun and engaging car to drive, offering a balance of performance and comfort.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior was designed with practicality and user-friendliness in mind. The addition of a volume knob and shortcut buttons for the infotainment system addressed previous complaints about the lack of physical controls. The Civic's interior layout remained largely unchanged, which was a positive aspect, as it offered a clean and intuitive design. The three-spoke steering wheel allowed for easy control of the central display, providing quick access to various functions such as recent destinations, audio sources, and trip information. The analog gauges for fuel and coolant flanked the central screen, offering a superior design compared to some of Honda's other models.

The Civic's interior was surprisingly spacious, with ample head- and legroom in the rear seats, making it comfortable for long journeys. Heated front seats were standard on most trims, with optional heated rear seats available. The trunk space was generous, with 428 litres available in the sedan (416 litres in the Touring due to the rear subwoofer) and 343 litres in the coupe. The hatchback offered the most cargo space, with up to 727 litres and 1,308 litres with the rear seats folded. The centre console provided additional storage options, with removable trays and cupholders. Visibility was excellent in all directions, particularly in the sedan, although the best LED headlights were reserved for the Touring trims.

The 2020 Honda Accord's interior was spacious and comfortable, offering a full-size car experience. It provided significantly more rear-seat legroom and cargo space compared to its competitors, making it an ideal choice for families. The standard 12-way power driver's seat offered excellent comfort and support, with heating and ventilation available on the Touring trim. However, the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, which was a minor drawback.

The Accord's rear seats were exceptionally comfortable, with wide doors for easy access and a natural seating angle. The EX-L and Touring trims offered heated outboard positions and rear air conditioning vents, enhancing passenger comfort. The trunk space was impressive, with 473 litres available, allowing for full-size suitcases to be stored on their sides. The only downside was the lack of a handle or grip to close the trunk lid.

Inside the cabin, the Accord offered ample storage space, with clear instrumentation and well-designed controls. The layered dashboard design created a sense of spaciousness, making the interior feel even larger. Overall, the Accord's interior was a comfortable and practical space, ideal for long journeys and daily commutes.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while once considered advanced, had become outdated compared to Honda's newer systems. The Android-based interface was slower and less intuitive, although the Garmin-based navigation system was a standout feature with its clear graphics and accurate voice input. The Civic redeemed itself with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. The 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring trim had improved sound quality, and Honda's LaneWatch system provided a live feed of the right-side blind spot, enhancing safety.

The 2020 Honda Accord featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was considered the best in Honda's lineup. It offered volume and tuning knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and sensible steering wheel controls. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, as well as text-messaging support. The Sport trim added a ten-speaker premium audio system, while the Touring trim offered HondaLink subscription services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless device charging. However, the system lacked natural voice recognition, requiring specific prompts for accurate responses. The Touring trim also featured a head-up display, visible even with polarized sunglasses, and a reversing camera with multiple viewing angles, enhancing visibility and safety.

The 2019 Honda Civic came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features on all trims except the Si and Type R. This suite included forward-collision alert, emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic received top ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with the exception of a four-star rating for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash test. These safety features and ratings made the Civic a reliable and secure choice for buyers.

The 2020 Honda Accord was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and received five stars in all NHTSA assessments. Honda Sensing was standard on all trims, offering forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, and traffic sign recognition. Automatic high beams were also standard. The Touring trim included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a feature highly valued by consumers. While Honda Sensing was generally effective, some systems could benefit from refinement, such as smoother adaptive cruise control and more accurate lane departure warnings. Overall, the Accord was a safe and reliable choice for buyers.